Thu, Nov 26 2009
|
|
Published October 07, 2008 09:35 pm - PITTSBURG, Kan. — Up to 12 pounds of mercury may have been released last week at a Pittsburg skate park, officials said Tuesday. Pittsburg police Maj. Brent Narges said the skate park reopened Monday. Report on juveniles suspected in mercury case given to prosecutor By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com PITTSBURG, Kan. — Up to 12 pounds of mercury may have been released last week at a Pittsburg skate park, officials said Tuesday. Pittsburg police Maj. Brent Narges said the skate park reopened Monday. Narges said police sent documents to the Crawford County prosecutor alleging that three juveniles were responsible for the theft and release of the mercury, but that the suspects would not be taken into custody. “We are not at this point going to make any physical arrest,” he said. “It will be up to the county attorney to determine any sort of charges.” The three juveniles allegedly broke into a railroad warehouse and took some of the toxic metallic chemical, authorities said. Mike Heideman, spokesman for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the mercury apparently came from seven arc resonators that are used to convert AC electrical current into DC current for welding. Each device contained about 2.54 pounds of mercury. About 5 pounds of liquid mercury later were removed from the warehouse by authorities. Heideman said the remaining 12 pounds were recovered and taken away in four 55-gallon drums containing contaminated dirt from the skate park, as well as in three 55-gallon drums containing dirt, dust and filter bags from the warehouse. An additional 13 boxes containing contaminated plates and sheeting, and clothing from people who were screened also will be disposed. “At present, the materials are at a secure location,” Heideman said. “They will be taken to a hazardous-waste landfill.” Authorities tested more than 40 homes, area schools and even a school bus, but they found no unsafe levels of mercury contamination, according to Janis Goedeke, director of the Crawford County Health Department. More than 150 people were screened and 87 were tested for the effects of mercury poisoning, but all the tests were negative, Goedeke said Tuesday. “No free mercury was found in any home, school or business, outside of the railroad facility or the park,” Heideman said. Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency were called in Sept. 30 after local police and firefighters shut down the skate park at Schlanger Park after learning about the incident. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Local News section
Hundreds served at churches, shelters in Joplin area Budget cuts, enrollment declines take toll at some Kansas schools PSU planning forums to discuss latest round of Kansas budget cuts |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
Locals react with dismay to new breast cancer screening guidelines w/ new cancer screening recommendations and American Cancer Society response
 |
 |
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
Published by Newspaper Holding, Inc. 117 East Fourth Street, Joplin, MO 64801 Using our site is your agreement to the terms and conditions. News: news@joplinglobe.com • (417)623-3480 Advertise with the Joplin Globe Copyright © 2006 The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO All rights reserved. 
|
Popular Business directory links - Joplin Apartments | Joplin Attorneys | Joplin Auto Dealers | Joplin Auto Parts | Joplin Auto Repair | Joplin Beauty Salons | Joplin Car Rental | Joplin Dentists | Joplin Doctors | Joplin Flowers | Joplin Hotels | Joplin Insurance | Joplin Loans | Joplin Mortgages | Joplin Movers | Joplin Pizza | Joplin Realtors | Joplin Restaurants | Joplin Storage | Joplin Tax Preparation | Joplin Travel | Joplin Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |
